I-25 Crash Closes Lanes in Colorado Springs

Multiple accidents Saturday, that involved seven cars, sent five people to the hospital. The driver of the motor home, Jose Fernandez, suffered serious burns and was flown to University Hospital.

Before noon, the two right lanes on southbound I-25 were closed between Bijou and Tejon. An officer was picking up debris that was in the middle of the road.

Traffic slowed for the clean up. Police believe the motor home was going too fast and hit an SUV. That accident blocked more traffic and caused two additional accidents.

“He clipped the rear-end of another car, ran off the side of the roadway and that vehicle burst into flames. He was trapped," said Sgt. Rob Kelley with the Colorado Springs Police Department.

The motor home was a complete loss. Witnesses tell 11 News several of them tried to help the man out, but the fire was already burning the right side of the vehicle. Witnesses couldn't unbuckle the driver’s seatbelt. Then, a female officer ran up and used a pocket-knife to cut the driver free.

"When he was extracted from the vehicle his clothes were on fire," said eyewitness Pete Christie.

Christie and his wife saw the accidents. They said the motor home drove past them at on the interstate.

"He swerved right in front of me, went around the left side of the car in front of me, barely missing him, and then hit the car in front of him," said Christie.

Many drivers were forced to turn around on the freeway to go around the accidents.

"It all happened so fast," said Christie.

The officer that helped rescue Fernandez also went to Memorial Hospital. She is being treated for smoke inhilation.

Russel Pennington, from Amarillo, Texas was also injured helping Fernandez.

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